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Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Legislative Agenda

Chamber members are encouraged to participate in Committees, to receive Governmental Affairs Committee reminders click here.

Business Climate

Businesses in Washington State must compete for business with suppliers in other states and countries.  When our State Government imposes new costs on business, whether directly in the form of taxes and fees or indirectly through new regulatory requirements, these costs cannot easily be passed on to consumers.  More often, these costs come out of the pockets of entrepreneurs and their employees.

In the upcoming session the Legislature will consider proposals put forward by the Governor to enact a cap and trade system to reduce carbon emissions and regulations being prepared by the Department of Ecology to mandate lower carbon content in gasoline.  Attempting to address a global issue at the state level would impose a heavy burden on Washington businesses and consumers, with serious consequences for our state's economy and employment.

Transportation

A prosperous economy requires the ability to move people and goods efficiently.  Completing improvements to I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass is vital to integrating our state's economy and facilitating agricultural exports from Eastern Washington.  While additional transportation investment and maintenance dollars are needed, Legislators must consider the impacts of higher gas prices on residents and businesses--particularly in rural areas.  Serious missteps on major projects such as the tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way viaduct point out the need for reform and greater efficiency at WSDOT before asking voters to entrust the Department with more taxpayer money.

State officials should do all that they can to help resolve the ongoing labor dispute at our Puget Sound ports, which is doing so much harm to the economy of the most trade dependent state in the nation.

Education

An educated workforce is essential for every business in Washington State, from retailers seeking cashiers with the basic math skills to make change to businesses seeking the scarce information technology talent necessary to compete in today's high-tech environment.  The Legislature should meet its constitutional requirements to fund basic education, while at the same time doing more to focus available resources on the classroom.  Reducing class size may be a part of this effort, but the unfunded mandates in I-1351 are a one-size-fits-all solution to a more complex problem and this initiative should be suspended to allow resources to be focused on the basic education priorities mandated by the McCleary decision.

Water

An adequate supply of water is vital to agriculture and to all residents and businesses in Yakima County.  The integrated plan developed by state, federal, tribal, environmental and irrigation stakeholders would improve water management through increased storage and conservation, and the Legislature should support funding to move forward with these projects.

Federal & State Government

United States Presidency
Web: www.whitehouse.gov
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1414


Congressman Dan Newhouse (R)

Web: newhouse.house.gov
1641 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5816
Fax: (202) 225-3251

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
yakamamuseum.com
Tribal Chairman, Gerald Lewis
PO Box 151, 100 Speil-yi Loop
Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-5121

Washington State Officials

www.access.wa.gov
Toll Free 1 (800) 321-2808

Governor - Jay Inslee (D)
Web: www.governor.wa.gov
(360) 902-4111

Lt. Governor - Danny Heck (D)
Web: www.ltgov.wa.gov
(360) 786-7700

Secretary of State - Steve Hobbs (D)
Web: www.secstate.wa.gov
(360) 902-4151

 

Local Government

Yakima County Commissioners
yakimacounty.us/cmrs
128 North Second Street
Yakima Courthouse
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-1500
Toll Free 1 (800) 572-7354
commissioners.web@co.yakima.wa.us

1st District Commissioner Amanda McKinney (R)

2nd District Commissioner Kyle Curtis (R)


3rd District Commissioner LaDon Linde (R)

 
Yakima County Sheriff
yakimacounty.us/sheriff
1822 South 1st Street
PO Box 1388
Yakima, WA 98907
(509) 574-2500
Toll Free 1 (800) 572-0490
Sheriff Robert Udell

Yakima County Officials
co.yakima.wa.us
128 North Second Street
Yakima Courthouse
Yakima, WA 98901
509-574-1000

Assessor - Jacob Tate
co.yakima.wa.us
(509) 574-1100

Auditor - Charles Ross
yakimacounty.us/auditor
(509) 574-1400

Clerk Billie A Maggard
yakimacounty.us/clerk
(509) 574-1430

Coroner Jim Curtice
yakimacounty.us/coroner
(509) 574-1610

Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic
yakimacounty.us/pa
(509) 574-1210

Treasurer Ilene Thompson
yakimacounty.us/treasurer
(509) 574-2800

Yakima City Officials
yakimawa.gov/council/
129 North Second Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 575-6000

Yakima City Council

Leo Roy
District 1
Term Expires
December 31, 2026
 
Danny Herrera
District 2
Term Expires
December 31, 2025
 
Patricia Byers 
Mayor 
District 3
Term Expires
December 31, 2023
 
Janice Deccio
District 4
Term Expires
December 31, 2025
 
Rick Glenn
District 5
Term Expires
December 31, 2026
 
Matt Brown
Assistant Mayor
District 6
Term Expires
December 31, 2025
 
Reedy Berg 
District 7
Term Expires
December 31, 2026

Voter Information

To register to vote, you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States of America
  • Be a legal resident of the State of Washington
  • Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
  • Not presently have your legal rights denied due to a felony

Yakima County Voter Registration  (509) 574-1340
Web www.yakimacounty.us/vote

Washington Elections and Voting  1 (800) 448- 4881
Web: www.secstate.wa.gov/elections

Local Government

CITY/PORT PHONE
City of Grandview 509-882-9200
City of Granger 509-854-1725
City of Mabton 509-894-4096
City of Moxee 509-575-8851
City of Selah 509-698-7326
City of Sunnyside 509-837-3782
City of Tieton 509-673-3162
City of Toppenish 509-865-2080
City of Union Gap 509-248-0432
City of Wapato 509-877-2334
City of Yakima 509-575-6000
City of Yakima Planning Dept 509-575-6183
City of Zillah 509-829-5151
Port of Grandview 509-882-4774
Port of Sunnyside 509-839-7678
Town of Harrah 509-848-2432
Town of Naches 509-653-2647
Yakima Air Terminal-Business Office 509-575-6149
Yakima County 509-574-1500

 

Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce
10 North 9th Street • Yakima WA 98901
Phone (509) 248-2021